State Police: Deadly Fire Intentionally Set

WILKES-BARRE — A big change in the investigation into a deadly fire that happened last month in Wilkes-Barre. Investigators now say the fire on Wyoming Street that left Laurie Merritt dead was intentionally set.

This is the home on Wyoming Street in Wilkes-Barre, where postal carrier Laurie Merritt lost her life in a fire last month, a fire that investigators now say was intentionally set. The latest news gave Merritt’s close friends a sense of relief that justice will eventually be served.

“As soon as I heard it, my hairs jumped up because we`re thrilled,” said George George, a friend and coworker of Merritt’s.

George George says he was one of Laurie’s closest friends. They worked together as postal workers in Wilkes-Barre.

“She was my work wife. I was the work husband. She was in my ear all the time at work. We were best friends, absolutely,” said George.

George believes he knows who set the fire.

No arrests have been made. But last month, Wilkes-Barre police filed a search warrant for phone records of Paul Kosakowski, said to be Merritt’s ex-boyfriend.

Just this morning, Investigators applied for a search warrant to look through merritt’s cell phone records. According to court papers. The ex-boyfriend told police he spoke with merritt the night of the fire. It’s unclear where he was when the fire started.

As George and Merritt’s other friends and family continue to mourn her loss:

“Nobody was nicer than Laurie, the nicest smile. She would give you the shirt off her back,” said George.

George has one thing to say to the person who he believes set the fire.

“They`re going to get you. I hope you`re sweating. They`re going to get you. You ain’t that smart.”

Police are still investigating and no arrests have been made in this case.